"It goes without saying that a lot is riding now on his ability to re-energize the health care debate and bring it home to a successful conclusion,'' Podesta told the *New York Times'*White House reporter, Peter Baker. And: "'Nothing will influence the perception of the presidency more than whether he can be successful in getting a health care bill through the Congress.'"

So he could be toast? Like that?

If we assume that Podesta doesn't just run at the mouth, that every word he speaks, especially to the New York Times, is a professional and calculated one, and that he represents certain powers that be in the Democratic Party, are those powers writing off the president? If he doesn't get his heath care bill, he's failed?

Rather more likely, if the Democrats expected failure they would hardly be setting themselves up to drive off the cliff—they'd be backpedaling. But it makes sense to define the stakes as make or break, if you know you can't lose. You're getting set for a sweat-drenched victory walk—you will have defied mighty odds. All this stuff about the crumbling administration is just setting the stage for an ever-more confident resurgent administration. They've gone through the fire and are now burnished steel.